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Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) have been shown to have
numerous vasoactive effects, particularly in large artery bioassays. This study shows that rabbit PMN passively release a contractile factor
that constricts the coronary vasculature of isolated,
Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts. The mechanism of action of this
factor does not involve inhibition of nitric oxide (NO), production of
cyclooxygenase metabolites, 5-hydroxytryptamine, or endothelin, or the
activation of
-adrenoceptors but is a
Ca2+-dependent process, because
the constriction is inhibited by the Ca2+-channel blocker amlodipine.
The activity of this factor is significantly inhibited if it is
pretreated with trypsin or heated to 90°C for 10 min, and the
active factor is concentrated in the retentate of 100-kDa cutoff
centrifuge filters, indicating that the factor is a protein >100 kDa
in size. This study shows that rabbit PMN spontaneously release a
protein factor that causes constriction of isolated, perfused rabbit
hearts by a NO-independent but
Ca2+-dependent mechanism.
neutrophil; vasoactive protein
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